Indonesian Children Losing Manners as Algorithms Replace Social Learning

A concerning trend of declining manners among Indonesian children is emerging, with a recent viral video showcasing a primary school student's disrespectful outburst towards parents over a trivial matter highlighting the issue. The child's use of harsh language and dismissive tone, coupled with a clear lack of respect, has resonated with many online observers who lament a perceived loss of courtesy in today's youth.

This phenomenon is not isolated, as a noticeable shift in children's communication styles is occurring in streets, schools, and homes. Traditional polite greetings to neighbors and elders are becoming rarer, and fundamental social courtesies like requests for help, expressions of thanks, and apologies seem to be disappearing from daily vocabulary.

While social media is often blamed, a deeper analysis suggests the problem is more complex. Digital algorithms are increasingly replacing traditional social environments in shaping children's personalities. Previously, children learned moral boundaries and social etiquette through direct interactions within their families, neighborhoods, and places of worship, where social control was immediate. Now, the cold, amoral world of online algorithms dictates much of their learning.

The line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior blurs in the virtual space. Children are exposed daily to content creators who gain popularity through aggressive language, extreme pranks, and demeaning others for online metrics. For emotionally and cognitively immature children, what goes viral and garners likes can become a new truth to emulate, fearing social exclusion. They struggle to differentiate between performance for entertainment and the social respect required in daily life. This erosion of etiquette signifies a deeper crisis of empathy, as politeness is a tangible expression of valuing others.